PUMPKIN PATCH TRIP 2012

How do you tell if the grandkids enjoyed their annual trip to the pumpkin patch? 

 

Well, if they've been there for five hours and still show no signs of wanting to leave, that's a  good sign.

 

This year we tried a new location, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, which has tulips in the spring and a pumpkin patch and corn maze in the fall.  We arrived this morning at 10:00 a.m. and stayed until nearly 3:00 p.m.  The only reason we left was because the grown-ups were tired and wanted to go home.

 

 

 

Seven of us converge on the farm as soon as they opened this morning.

Devon shares a bench with someone who was already there when we arrived.

A ghost appeared at the farm.  Interestingly, Naomi's fingers also appeared, reaching over the top of the frame.

Silas climbs the spiderweb.

Tyler arrives with the person who ,allegedly, is his favorite person

Naomi rides a John Deere tricycle.

The miracle of "Future Projection Photography" shows what Tyler will probably look like when he is in his thirties.

Hayride to the corn maze.

Six Weathersbys in a corn maze.

Two bridges in the corn maze.  One flies a Duck flag and one flies a Beaver flag.

Six Weathersbys on the stairs to one of the bridges, but only five are visible.  Actually, all six are visible if you realize that Tim, who appears pregnant in this photo, is not.

Shooting the potato gun.

The potato gun target.

Silas handles the heavy-duty potato launcher.

My turn.

Naomi shoots a potato gun.

The whole family takes aim.

Naomi swings on a tire transformed into a cow.

Tim and Devon take aim with BB guns while Naomi and Silas try archery.

Silas prepares to release the arrow.

Silas and I shoot side by side.

Silas shoots a soda can.

A bus for six.

Naomi ropes a calf.

Bethany and Tyler take a break.

Tyler checks out the pumpkins on the flatbed truck.

Tyler invites his mom to join him on the truck.

Riding the cow train.

Naomi and Devon ride the first two cows

Bethany and Tyler follow the cow that I rode.

Tyler climbs the spiderweb.

Tyler leaves with the person who, allegedly, is his favorite person.

WHERE WEALTHY PEOPLE EAT



When looking for a restaurant in Woodburn, Oregon, the place to go if you have a ton of money in your pocket is Arctic Circle.  Silas had eaten here before but, for the rest of us, it was a first time experience.

 

 



 

The seven of us dined for $25.36.  After giving the cashier $25,365.00 in cash, she returned the proper amount in change, $25,339.64.  I've never really felt comfortable walking around with that kind of cash in my wallet.

Naomi enjoys the corndog she ordered.

Tim ordered the double cheese burger which is usually served cheese-meat-cheese-meat-cheese in a bun, but Tim would only agree to order it if served cheese-meat- cheese-cheese-meat.  The restaurant complied with his wishes which undoubtedly improved the taste of the meal.

Devon and I take a break from eating to pose for a portrait.

Our trip to Arctic Circle had historic value.  It was Tyler's first time eating french fries.

Silas was appalled at the table manners of some in our group.

RY-RY'S RED HOTS

Rylie, known in the sports world as Ry-Ry, led her volleyball team, the Red Hots, in a rout of the opposing team today. 

 

In a best-of-three-game match, the Red Hots crushed their opponents in the first two games, rendering a third game unnecessary.

 

 

Ry-Ry in her Red Hots jersey

Ry-Ry, wearing jersey 17, waits for her turn to rotate into the game.

Shown as a blur due to her excessive speed, Ry-Ry serves the ball.

Ry-Ry braces herself to return a serve from the opposing team.

Realizing the importance of looking good on the court, Ry-Ry straightens her hair.

Ry-Ry joins the team huddle while keeping herself properly hydrated with her blue bottle.

 

Ry-Ry again waits to rotate into the game.

Ry-Ry agrees to pose for a picture with some of her adoring fans: Nana, Baylee, Josie, Alexia and Makiah.

MOFFIT TIME

The Moffits rolled into town today for one final visit before their return to the Philippines.    After lunch, the kids spent the entire afternoon and the early evening wet, with one brief break for grilled cheeseburgers.

 

 



 

Three kids and a foot that resembles an albino prune.

Serious.  Hot tub serious.

Bottom in a bucket.

Clean hands.

Head and shoulders and Neo.

Contortionish.

Multi-level raft.

If you're told not to hit your sisters and you start kicking them instead, you get a time out.  A time out is best served with a protruding lower lip.

When you get tired of protruding your lower lip during a time out, you start growling instead.

The Moffit kids.



Josh chats with Debra.

Belinda shares a story.  Josh and Debra listen.



Father and daughter.

Conquest of a seahorse caught on video:

 

 

Homemade waterslide episode caught on video:

 

 



THE DATE THAT FAILED

Sitting on the patio at the Bella Union Restaurant

Debra had gone to lunch with Ashley a few weeks ago in a quaint little town at a quaint little restaurant with a quaint little outdoor dining patio amply covered with shade from a single tree.  When she was there, she ordered a Wild Salmon Burger and that decision made a lasting impression on her life.

Today, I took the day off work and Debra wanted to relive the adventure by taking me out to lunch at the Bella Union Restaurant in Jacksonville, Oregon, with a gift card she had received from co-workers on her birthday.  When we arrived, the place was packed and the hostess told us that we would have to wait about ten minutes for a table, so we sat in the waiting area and studied the menu, even though our hearts were already set on the Wild Salmon Burger.

After our brief wait, the hostess escorted us to the patio and seated us at one of the best tables available.  After we took our seats, the hostess said, “Your server, Jon, will be with you in a moment”.  She left us alone, and within a couple of minutes Jon arrived to a couple of salmon-burger-obsessive customers and asked, “What would you folks like today?”

 

“We’d both like your Wild Salmon Burger,” I answered.

 

After a brief pause, Jon said, “I’m sorry, but we’re not serving salmon burgers today.” 

Our body language might have been unsuccessful in concealing our disappointment.  “Oh,” I bemoaned. “Then please give us a moment to look over your menu again.”

 

Reluctantly, Debra and I surveyed the selection of sandwiches and we both decided to order the Pulled Pork Sandwich.  After we made our choice, we waited for Jon to return to take our order.  He arrived shortly.

 

“We’d both like your Pulled Pork Sandwich,” I told him.

 

“That’s an excellent choice!” Jon replied.  “In fact, it’s my personal favorite.”

 

Jon took our order and left us to enjoy the beautiful setting and, of course, to enjoy each other.  After a few minutes Jon returned and apologetically proclaimed, “I’m so sorry, but we’re out of Pulled Pork today, too.”

 

“That’s okay,” I said.  “It’s not your fault.”  Then I looked at Debra and said, “Why don’t we just come back on another day?”

 

“Okay,” she sighed.

 

Then we left.

 

We will go back again and his name really isn’t Jon.